Afghan forces backed by American soldiers and attack helicopters clashed with around 50 suspected Taliban fighters near the Pakistani border today, and the US military said the militants suffered "heavy losses".
In one of the biggest recent battles between Afghan and allied US forces and Islamic militants opposed to the government in Kabul, at least two Afghan soldiers and two suspected Taliban fighters were killed, a local commander said.
The fighting south of Khost, in the district of Gurbuz a few miles from the Pakistan border continued for several hours.
"A B-1 bomber, two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and four AH-1 Cobra helicopters provided air support," said US Major Rick Peat.
"The militants retreated in panic and were pursued by the attack aircraft," he added.
Afghan forces backed by A-10 "tank buster" aircraft clashed with around 50 militants four to five hours later.
"Again, the militants retreated after incurring heavy losses," Maj Peat said.
Gen Khialbaz Sherzai, commander of the Afghan army's 25th Division in Khost, said a total of two Afghan soldiers were killed and two wounded, while two Taliban militants were also killed and one captured. He said the captured fighter appeared to be a foreigner, possibly of Arab extraction.
Gen Sherzai said his forces saw dozens of wounded militants crossing into Pakistan, where members of Afghanistan's ousted Taliban as well as foreign militants with links to al Qaeda are said to be active.
Pakistan denies Afghan accusations that its territory is being used as a sanctuary by militants.
Separately, an Afghan soldier was killed last night when suspected Taliban militants opened fire from a motorcycle on a car being used for voter registration in the southern province of Helmand.
The drive-by shooting near Helmand's provincial capital of Lashkar Gah was the latest in a series of attacks on election workers in Afghanistan.
The two gunmen carrying AK-47s escaped on a motorcycle, said Mr Haji Mohammad Wali, spokesman for the Helmand governor.